Giga Kick rider decision nears

Who will be aboard star sprinter Giga Kick when he makes his return in the Concorde Stakes could become clearer next week when the gelding steps out in Sydney.

The five-year-old had his most serious workout of what has been a lengthy campaign at Mornington on Wednesday when he finished second in a course proper jumpout.

Trainer Clayton Douglas, a former accomplished jockey, was aboard for the 800-metre workout but will hand over the reins when Giga Kick trials at Randwick on Friday next week but to whom exactly has not been decided.

“We’re not really too sure just yet, I just wanted to get through this morning,” Douglas told RSN927 a couple of hours after the jumpout.

“We’ll get him up to Sydney over the weekend, he’s obviously due to trial next Friday, so we’ll have more of an answer probably Monday or Tuesday as to who’s going to trial him.

“We have had plenty of interest in him, that’s for sure.”

The Randwick hitout will be the first of two trials in Sydney ahead of the $1 million Group 3 Concorde Stakes (1000m) at Randwick on September 7.

Giga Kick has not started since the McEwen Stakes on September 9 last year when Craig Williams, who won the 2022 The Everest aboard Giga Kick, was aboard but subsequently removed after connections were dissatisfied with the ride when third behind Imperatriz.

James Mcdonald was booked for his defence of The Everest only for Giga Kick to be turned out prior to that $20 million race being run due to injury.

The son of Scissor Kick has had a long build up to his return to the races and Douglas was thrilled with the feel he gave him in the jumpout, in which he travelled boldy in clear running and surged to the line stylishly under light riding to be beaten 1-3/4 lengths.

“It was a pretty handy trial, he had some nice horses in it from Mornington, he settled off the speed and went to the line under a hold and I was really happy with what I felt,” Douglas said.

The jumpout also featured Golden Slipper runner-up Coleman, who was not knocked around in his first serious workout since last campaign and finished fifth, just under a length behind Giga Kick.